When Kathleen Stady got married in August, her backyard was filled with friends, family, and ReStore. She and her now-husband, John, had found their wedding arch at the Beaverton ReStore, where they both volunteer. Two friends from the ReStore helped decorate it with flowers and ribbon. Current staff and volunteers filled the guest list and assisted with arrangements — proof of the deep relationships Kathleen has built at the ReStore.
“I love the people here,” she says. “The staff are lifelong friends.”
Finding New Purpose After Retirement
Kathleen still remembers when she first found the ReStore in 2022. She had recently retired from Costco, where she worked for 37 years as an auditor. At first, she dreamed of settling abroad. But when that didn’t work out, she came back to Beaverton searching for new direction.
One morning, she saw a story on the local news about Habitat for Humanity Portland Region. It showed volunteers at a construction site and at the ReStore. It caught her attention and inspired her to fill out an application and arrange an orientation.
“I walked in going, let’s see where this takes me,” Kathleen recalls. “I had a really good first day here, and I was looking forward to coming back. And I’ve come back so many days since then, because I love it here.”
ReStores are home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, appliances, building materials, and more at discounted prices. The four Portland Region ReStore locations help divert thousands of tons of reusable materials from landfills each year. The funds generated from the ReStores support Habitat’s local homebuilding and home repair programs.
What started as something to try quickly became Kathleen’s new passion. “I fell in love with the mission,” she says.
The ReStore Way of Life
At the Beaverton ReStore, every volunteer shift starts with the whiteboard. It helps the team keep track of what needs to be done to ensure customers have a wonderful experience. Next to it is the “Grab and Go” — a system that empowers volunteers to find additional tasks to help improve the store.
“People are allowed to work at their ability and their pace here. Everything is appreciated,” Kathleen explains.
Her favorite department is lawn and garden (it’s where she first spotted that wedding arch!) She enjoys spending time there to make it tidy, organized, and ready to shop.
Kathleen considers lighting another special area of the Beaverton ReStore. You can’t miss the sparkling mass of chandeliers hanging from the ceiling when you walk in the front door. She and John like to work together to find new fixtures to add to the display. John will climb the ladder, then Kathleen will hand him a light and make sure the price tag is visible from the floor.
She and John have been volunteering together for about a year and a half. Kathleen considers him her favorite recruit. They usually do two shifts a week, with Saturdays being their favorite. “It’s busy, there’s a lot to do, and the energy is amazing,” Kathleen says.
Treasure in Every Connection
In a store where inventory changes by the minute, every shift feels like a treasure hunt. But for Kathleen, the real treasures are the people she meets along the way. Walking through the store with her, she greets regular shoppers by name. And she loves welcoming new ReStore volunteers and answering their questions.
“Volunteers will come and go,” she notes, “but it’s always such a blessing to touch lives like that.”
Kathleen says her faith has deepened in recent years, and it helps fuel how she moves through the world. She and John even spent their honeymoon on a mission trip to Mexico. Kathleen also serves at a local hospice, visiting three patients each week and helping in the office.
Whether volunteering with Habitat or elsewhere, Kathleen believes the experience will help you build something meaningful in your life.
“Building relationships, building foundations with people,” she says. “It gives you an opportunity to change and grow, be different and learn.”
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Groups are especially welcome at the Gresham ReStore and Portland ReStore.
